WORK to explore different payment methods at BCP Council services is being carried out.
Methods to relief the “financial exclusion” of card payments only is happening, a senior councillor said, including paying for council tax via a PayPoint in a corner shop.
Green councillor Joe Salmon said he “would love to see the rationale” behind the decision to make car parks cashless – a “silly” idea, he said.
But finance cabinet member Mike Cox said cash represents 12 per cent of car parking income yet represents 56 per cent of costs relating to collection, not including staff costs.
The Lib Dem said: “The decision to move to a cashless in BCP car parks was taken in early 2019, pre-covid, in response to the high levels of theft from car parking machines and the increase in cost to repair and replace the damaged equipment.
“In response, certain other services moved to cashless as a direct response to the pandemic and the position has not reversed as the situation eased.
“At this stage, card payments remain the most cost-effective payment plan as the cost of collecting, counting and banking cash is significant and not without risk.”
Moordown ward councillor Salmon has brought up problems with the council only having a cashless payment method to full council before.
He said that there are a “significant number of people in this country who simply don't have access to a type of banking services that give them the debit cards”.
Cllr Cox added: “It’s recognised that the use of cash is a symptom of financial exclusion and therefore the use of cash is being reviewed on a service-by-service basis.
“The council is increasing the use of PayPoint location, the opportunity to expand PayPoint counter services into Bournemouth has recently been taken up thereby enabling more residents to pay council tax in cash at a more convenient and accessible location such as a corner shop.”
The use of banknotes and paper cash is declining, with a recent survey for Link indicating that nearly half (48 per cent) of people expect to see a cashless society in their lifetime.
Nonetheless, post offices handled a record amount of cash in July, with transactions totalling £3.77 billion.
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